Chamonix is one of the best equipped resorts for business tourism, thanks to its newly-renovated conference centre (2010) and the number of hotels offering meeting rooms. Check out what’s on offer in Chamonix.
Business tourism enjoys the same level of importance on Chamonix’s list of priorities as recreational tourism. The mountaineering capital of the Alps has, for a long time, specialised in scientific conferences linked to the mountain environment and seminar business that are attracted by the resort’s reputation. In response to the demand for its services, “Cham” has created a top-class range of facilities.
The resort’s flagship is without doubt the Majestic conference centre, formerly a luxury hotel that was built at the start of the last century. The centre boasts nine meeting rooms on the ground floor, all of which were renovated at the end of 2010, offering space for between 15 and 400 people. They provide improved comfort and state-of-the-art technologies, which is what all delegates should expect these days. The town has spent around 600,000 € on improving the facilities, taking care to respect the Belle Epoque architectural style of the venue.
“Le Majestic retains its prestigious character and its decor, whilst offering all the latest technical services,” explains Cathy Didier, conference and seminar sales manager at the Bureau des Congrès de Chamonix Mont Blanc. “Thanks to the renovation work, we’ve been able to join the Europe-wide HCCE network (Historic Conference Centers of Europe), which has 25 members including Pau in France. In order to become a member, there has to be a conference centre within a historic building which is open the whole year round”.
Le Majestic handles on average between 10 and 15 events, of which at least half have an international dimension. Scientists, doctors, glaciologists and other sports and mountain professionals flock to the base of Mont Blanc to exchange information on the latest discoveries from the École de Physique des Houches, the École Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme and from IFREMONT (Institut de Formation et de Recherche en Médecine de Montagne). In addition there are between 30 and 40 seminars, for the most part French but there is also demand from Switzerland, Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK. On site, event organisers benefit from the support of the destination’s three-person team under the management of Cathy Didier.
However, Chamonix has other meeting venues than just the Majestic. There are a number of hotels in the town that boast meeting facilities, including three 5* properties: the Albert 1er (a room for 30 people), Les Granges d’en Haut in Les Houches (14 chalets set around a meeting centre, all available for exclusive use if required) and theHôtel
Mont Blanc which has been taken over by the hotel branch of the Taittinger group and is due to open again next summer. There are also six 4* hotels: Le Morgane (a room with space for 15), the Mercure Bossons (four rooms with space for 12 to 180 people), the Mercure Chamonix (12 rooms for 12 to 150 people), the Bois Prin (no function room as such, but the possibility of organising a board meeting), the Grand Hôtel des Alpes (a room with space for 25) and the Jeu de Paume in Le Lavancher (a 30-seat room). Several of the 3* hotels are also active on the seminar market: Les Aiglons (a 180 m2 meeting room that can be divided into three plus a 43 m2 room), the Alpina (a 200-seat room and two break-out rooms), the Prieuré (seven rooms with space for between ten and 300), the Labrador (three rooms for between six and 30) and the Park Hôtel Suisse et Spa (a 70-seat room).
It is worth repeating that such a range of facilities is exceptional for a mountain resort. “Cham” also offers a multitude of venues for the recreational side of the seminar and conference business. The latest arrival is the Cap Horn, located on the Rue des Moulins, which opened at the end of 2011. This very trendy venue comprises two restaurants, the Cap Horn and the Cap Blanc, as well as a lounge bar called the Caves du Pèle.
Costs for a seminar in Chamonix, on a semi-residential basis (room hire, single room accommodation, half-board and refreshment breaks) will cost between 150 and 500 € for a double room. At Le Majestic, rental of all the rooms costs 4140 € (ex VAT). The main meeting room costs 2200 € (ex VAT) to rent and the break-out rooms between 280 and 480 € (ex VAT).
Bureau des Congrès de la vallée de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, in Chamonix (Haute-Savoie)
00 33 (0)5 50 53 75 50
